our sister out for a few hours,” Gabe said, helping the older lady out.
“I don’t want to go out with you.” Abby prepared to leave. She didn’t have the strength to battle brothers right now; she had wallowing to do.
“And yet you will.” Gabe stepped into the doorway, forcing her back. “We will have a nice day out together. I thought perhaps a visit to a bookstore, and then to that tea place you like.”
“You loathe tea and tea shops.”
“Today I like them,” Gabe said, gently nudging Abby back to her seat.
“I don’t need any more books,” said no one ever.
“Accept the peace offering, Abby.” Michael took the seat beside her and Gabe the one opposite.
“‘Sorry I was a simpleminded idiot,’ is a peace offering that I would accept. Or, ‘I was wrong to have confronted Mr. Dillinger as I did. Just as I’m wrong to not allow my sister to have her own thoughts and trust her. Just as I’m wrong not to allow her some freedom.’”
Gabe’s mouth twitched. “Don’t push it, sister.”
“I don’t want to spend time with you now. Please let me return to the house.”
“What has happened? You look sad,” Gabe said, “and not just because your brothers are apparently idiots.”
“I’m not sad, I’m angry, and you are idiots.” They could never find out what had transpired today, and as she and Daniel would never discuss it and Dimity could hold her counsel, Abby was sure it would stay hidden.
“We have talked and will try to improve our behavior,” Michael said.
“I don’t believe you.” Abby folded her arms as the carriage rolled away. Wallowing, it seemed, would have to wait. Now she needed to pretend she wasn’t aching inside.
“That’s harsh.” Gabe looked affronted, which she knew was an act.
“Gabe, we’ve been through this many times, so many they are too numerous to recount, and not once have you actually changed. Do you know what Miss Lucy Hamilton said to me at the Bentley ball two nights ago?”
“Do I want to know?”
“She said she felt sorry for me, as it’s well known that the man who breaches the walls of the Deville brothers to court their sister is either brave or incredibly foolish. Lucy said she doubted such a man was in London this year.”
“We love you,” Gabe said, as if that justified everything.
“You trot that out when you have no other reply.”
“It is the truth, Abigail. We love you, and perhaps this makes us a trifle overprotective at—”
“A trifle?” Abby made a scoffing sound.
“We understand this world, Abby; you do not. There are those that would prey on women such as yourself, and we have no wish to see you hurt.”
“You watch my every move as if I were some… some woman of loose morals.” She refused to blush. “That is not called protection, it is called smothering.”
“I don’t like to hear you speak that way. What could you know of such women?” Michael’s brows lowered as he glared at her. “You’ve been far too free with such language of late.”
“I don’t know anything of them. Surely it is you four who have that knowledge.”
“Your opinion of us is very lowering,” Gabe said.
“I love you all, but I am also aware of your failings, as you are mine.”
“Putting our failings to one side for now,” Gabe began.
“Oh, must we? I so enjoy discussing them.” Abby’s tone was sickly sweet.
“The point here is, we do love you and do not like seeing you unhappy,” Gabe added.
“My future does not look in any way what I once hoped it would be.” Abby said. “I don’t want to live my life moving between your houses looking after my nieces and nephews. You will have wives, and they will not want me about the place.”
Gabe never showed his guilt, just kept his eyes steady on her face. It was his way: show no weakness. He was the head of the family and therefore he must be the strongest. Abby knew this was not always the truth; he had weaknesses, but very few people ever saw them.
“I don’t like to think of you living somewhere we are not,” Michael said. “Added to that, I would never take a wife who did not love you as we do.”
“That is not a realistic expectation, Michael. Love makes fools of people. You may not know the true character of your wife until she has your ring on her finger.”